For Students

Alcohol and other substance use effects each person differently. The University of Rochester’s Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education Program hopes students will make smarter and healthier choices when they have the knowledge and information about the substances they may choose to consume.

Alcohol and other drugs do not have to be a part of your college experience, but if they are, these substances do not have to control your experience.

Alcohol

Alcohol related offenses are each handled differently depending on the circumstances surrounding them. If you have questions about alcohol related code of conduct violations please contact our office at (585) 275-4085 or conflict.management@rochester.edu.

Standard Pour

What is a standard serving of alcohol? How do you know how many drinks you have had? Here is an image that identifies a standard pour by drink type.

standard pour on red solo cup

Here is your standard red solo cup. The lines on a red solo cup can act as a guideline to knowing your pour. The line at the bottom marks a standard pour for liquor at 1–1.5 ounces. The next line up is at 5 ounces, and shows a standard pour for wine. The next line up shows 12 ounces, which is the standard pour for beer. (Image from The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.)

Binge Drinking

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks or women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours. However, there are multiple factors that contribute to alcohol intoxication, including, but not limited to weight, biological sex, medications, how much food has been consumed and how fast someone consumes alcohol.

Study Aids

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that students who abuse study drugs tend to have lower GPAs than those who do not take them. Frequent abuse of study drugs that are not originally prescribed to users can have long term effects, including extreme organ damage, chronic exhaustion, breathing problems, headaches, and negative impacts on mental health.

Furthermore, use of a prescription that is not intended for your consumption is illegal and against campus policy.

If you, or someone you know is struggling with academic pressure, please seek out support from one of the following office on campus:

Drugs

Drug related policy violations are each handled differently depending on the circumstances surrounding them. If you have questions about a drug related code of conduct violations please contact our office at (585) 275-4085 orconflict.management@rochester.edu.

Warning Signs

It is important for students to learn and understand the potential warning signs of addiction and substance abuse in order to help themselves or a friend or peer who may be struggling.

Signs that someone you know may be experiencing substance addiction include:

  • Missing class and failing to complete assignments
  • Decrease in academic performance
  • Loss of interest in things they once enjoyed
  • Lack of focus/concentration
  • Memory loss
  • Mood/behavioral changes
  • Isolation from others
  • Unusual sleeping habits, such as being up all night and sleeping during the day
  • Irregular eating patterns
  • Needing to use substances in order to have a “good time”
  • Secrecy about one’s activities or other suspicious behavior
  • Increased mental health concerns
  • Unusual smells on the body or clothing
  • Unusual neglect with respect to physical appearance

If you see a friend or peer struggling with addiction or dependency on a substance(s), the first step can be to sit down and have a non-judgmental conversation about their use. Listening and showing you are a supportive resource for them can make them feel that they are not going through this alone.

If you are uncomfortable talking to them yourself, or if you’re unsure if they are experiencing signs of dependency or substance addiction, send in a CARE referral.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you or someone near you is experiencing any of the physiological signs below, please call the Department of Public Safety at (585) 275-3333 to get medical assistance (when off-campus, please call 911):

  • Inability to stand up by themselves
  • Slurred speech
  • Cannot answer generic questions such as what month it is, how old they are, etc.
  • Inability to stay conscious/not easily woken, shallow or slow breathing
  • Completely unconscious
  • Cannot stop throwing up or is throwing up blood

Students who seek medical attention for others related to consumption of alcohol or other drugs will not face disciplinary action. See the Medical Amnesty Policy for more information.

Getting Help

If you are struggling with addiction or dependency on a substance(s), there are confidential resources on campus who can help: